Die behoefte van professionele personeel in die biblioteek- en inligtingswese aan rekenaarmatige opleiding

[摘要] English: The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a need for computertraining of professional personnel in the South African library and informationsciences. The target group also included persons involved in formaltraining and research. The extent to which libraries and information serviceshave already made use of computer technology and the increased availability ofinformation constituted the reasons for the study.An overall view of the current use of computers in libraries and informationservices was obtained. The job performance of professional personnel was subsequentlyanalysed, particularly with regard to the tasks for which computertechnology can be used, in order to determine the computer knowledge andskills that are required for the effective performance of these tasks. Aknowledge of reading and writing was found to be the minimum requirement inthis regard.Relevant literature on the subject was also studied with a view to determiningthe extent to which the Departments for Library and Information Sciences atoverseas universities make provision for training in the use of the computer.Special attention was given to the objectives of such training and the methodof presentation. It appeared that students of Library and InformationSciences, particularly in the United States of America and in Australia,received considerable computer training. Other countries that can be mentionedin this regard are Britain, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Japan.Computer training for students of Library and Information Sciences at SouthAfrican universities was also investigated on the basis of the informationcontained in the yearbooks of the respective universities. It was found thatalthough most universities in some way or other give some attention to thismatter, a wide variety of methods are being used. A number of universitiesgave no indication in their yearbooks of the inclusion of computer training inthese courses.The need for computer training as experienced in practice was determined withthe aid of an empirical investigation. Only the professional members of theNorthern Transvaal branch of SAILIS were approached in order to identify a general trend. Questionnaires were sent out to them of which 233 ( 51, 13 '\.)were eventually used. The sample response revealed that 78,76 '\. of therespondents regarded computer training as essential for their present job performanceand 92, 04 '\. stated that computer training was essential for personsentering the profession for the first time.Various means were identified for offering computer training with specialreference to the method of training, the required background knowledge and theproblems that may be experienced. A general discussion of the content ofcourses or themes for computer training also took place.The study revealed that the professional personnel of the South AfricanLibrary and Information Sciences admitted that there was a great need forcomputer training. Proposals were made for satisfying this need.

[发布机构] University of the Free State